Feeding / 12 month old

12 months

One year olds should be off formula and off bottles. Prolonged use of bottles causes cavities and increases the risk of ear infections. They should move onto sippy cups and whole milk. I do not recommend follow-up formula.

The average 9 month drinks about 30 ounces of formula a day, while the average 1 year old should take 10 to 12 ounces of whole milk a day. Milk is now only a part of the child’s diet. I’d rather hear that your 1 year old refuses all milk than they drink so much milk they refuse solids.

One of my daughters refused to drink milk for several months. When this happens in other families, I recommend persistently serving milk as the only beverage option at lunch and dinner. Eventually, children (as my daughter did) learn to drink milk.

Typically, 9 to 10 month olds are the “best eaters” in term of quantity of food and some parents will notice a decline in appetite as early as 12 months.

By 12 months, most children should be eating what you are eating. Higher fat foods should be encouraged until 2 years old as this helps brain development. Toddlers should be strapped into a chair and be required to sit for the entire meal. Parents should set a good example by eating a healthy diet.

Children should be offered the same dinner as the rest of the family. In our home, we serve our 1 year olds salad even though we know they cannot chew and eat it yet. By consistently and repetitively presenting our children healthy foods they will learn to eat them.

Extended Breast feeding

What are your thoughts on Extended Breastfeeding (breastfeeding beyond 1 year of age)? Typically how long were your children breastfed? Clearly, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation of 12 months is (... more on Extended Breast Feeding).

Milk for 1 year olds

At one year of age, children should be transitioned off formula onto whole milk. One year olds need a diet that is high in fat for continued brain development. Children continue to myelinate (coat) brain and nerve cells (... more on Milk for 1 year olds)

Getting Children to Eat Vegetables

As a child, I was the picky eater of our family. My parents often joke that I survived only because of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. In contrast my children are great eaters, in large part thanks for my (... more on Getting Children to Eat Vegetables)

Skinny 12 month old

I have a 12 month old who weighs 19 lbs and is 29 inches. He adds about 1lb/month, so he's running on the skinny side. He eats 3 hearty adult meals and drinks plenty of whole milk. What kinds of foods will add weight on? (... more on Skinny 12 month old)

Vitamins for a 1 year old

My child is 14 months old. He is drinking a combination of Enfagrow and whole milk (soon just whole milk.) Should I also be giving him a vitamin, and if so, what kind?
(more on vitamins for a 1 year old)

Refusing to eat

Our 12 month old is refusing whole milk. She will only drink water from her sippy cup. Along with this issue the only whole food she will eat is yogurt (4 times a day) puffs and cheerios. I know she is not eating (... more on 12 month old refusing to eat).

Starting a sippy cup

How do you get a 12/13 month old to hold his bottle or sippy cup? He seems to be very lazy about this. He was born a month early and weighed 4lb 12oz at birth. One year olds should be feeding themselves. They (...more on starting sippy cup)

1 year old refusing to drink milk

My daughter is not quite 13 months, has been transitioned completely off the bottle, but is refusing to drink even one ounce of milk a day. I have tried everything from initially combining half formula/half milk, (... more on 1 year old refusing to drink milk)

Dribbling Milk

My 13 month old will leisurely and sporadically drink his milk. If he's really thirsty, he will drink about 2 oz without spilling a drop. But as he relieves his thirst, he will continue to drink and will let it dribble out of his mouth.(... more on dribbling milk)

Spitting out fruits and veggies

I had a few questions about 14 month old’s eating habits. First off, he switched to cow's milk at 12 months with no problems at all. He normally eats pretty well, but seems to have an issue with the (... more on 1 year old spitting out fruits and veggies)

Toddler refusing to eat healthy foods

I have one “add on” question to this. If I continue to present the veggies & fruits & he still refuses to eat them, should I give him something else just so he eats or let him be hungry? (... more on toddler refusing to eat healthy foods)

Babies and Peanut Butter

When is a good time to introduce peanut butter into child's diet? Everything you read is so conflicting. In the last 5 years, there have (... more on Babies and Peanut Butter)

gregorygordonmd.com is intended to help parents understand the needs and behaviors of children. The information presented in the site is the opinion of Gregory Gordon, M.D.and does not reflect the opinion of his partners. This website is owned exclusively by Doctors insights LLC. The advice in this site does not apply to all children. Always consult your healthcare provider for your individual needs.